Career Prospects in the Built Environment
Our social, business and natural environment is influenced by the needs of society and is designed and constructed by a team comprising Civil Engineers, Environmental Engineers, Architects, Construction Managers and other construction professionals.
On successful completion of an accredited course you could be involved with projects as diverse as:
- Transportation - Roads/Bridges, Airports, Railways, Waterways/Canals, Ports/Harbours, Space Travel.
- Buildings/Structures - Commercial/Industrial, Housing, Sports & Leisure Centres, Football Stadia, Retail Parks, Theatres, Night-clubs, Prisons, etc.
- Essential Services - Water Supply & Treatment, Sewage Treatment, Gas, Electricity, Communications Systems, Wind Farms, Offshore Oil Extraction, Dams, Reservoirs.
- Coastal & Leisure - Coastal Protection, Sea Defence, Promenades, Sea Walls, Beach Nourishment Dredging & Reclamation, Entertainment's & Rides (The Big One!).
- Demolition - Manual, Mechanical, Explosives.
- Environment - Waste Management, Landfill Engineering, Pollution Control,
Reclamation of Contaminated Land, Impact Assessment, and much more.......
There is enormous satisfaction when you see something important being created especially if you have been involved as part of the team. A finished project that exists because of your involvement in it is something of which you will always be proud.
The British construction industry is active throughout the world and British designers and managers are respected internationally.
Career Prospects
Construction is the largest industry in the UK, employing ten percent of the nation's workforce. Recent construction industry surveys predict a shortage of technical and professional staff in all construction disciplines, and a growing need for environmental technologists.
The construction industry offers careers of almost infinite variety with good opportunities for those wishing to accept challenges and willing to shoulder responsibility. Opportunities exist for those who like working outdoors or who prefer work in an office environment, in the UK or overseas. Communication skills, numeracy, a concern for the environment and the ability to work with others as a member of a team are pre-requisites for a career in civil and environmental engineering.
It is vitally important to select a Built Environment course that can demonstrate a proven track record of industrial placements, thus providing essential industrial experience and enhancing employability.
There are equal opportunities for men and women. An ever-increasing percentage of women are studying on construction related courses and are rising to senior positions within the profession.
Career Opportunities
Civil Engineering Contractors / Construction Managers
- Manage the construction process.
- Construct the project safely, within time and budget to the highest standards.
- Responsible for the smooth running of the site.
Duties would include setting out; co-ordinating mechanical plant, labour and materials; calculations and keeping records of site activities; negotiating with consultants, plant hire companies and materials suppliers.
Consulting Civil & Structural Engineers
- Established own practices or employed by multi-national practice.
- Involved in the full range of civil engineering activity, responsible for whole-life project management i.e. from inception through completion and including the operation / maintenance of a project.
- May specialise in particular types of work.
- Provide advisory, design and supervisory services and undertake investigations for clients.
- Assist clients in the selection of contractors and act as intermediary between client and contractor.
- Ensure contracts are correctly performed and authorise payments to the contractor for work done.
Municipal Engineers
- Employed by local authorities to provide and maintain essential local services.
- Projects comprise road networks, bridges, traffic management, sea defence, car parking, water & waste management, estate design and management.
- Consult the public; produce designs & supervise the work; undertake environmental assessment.
Environmental Engineers/Managers
- Play an important role in protecting as well as improving the environment.
- Many civil engineering consultancies have now established environmental divisions.
- Involved in waste management, landfill engineering, control of pollution, reclamation of contaminated land, ground treatment & remediation, impact assessments.
Civil engineers are employed in all walks of life reflecting the breadth of their management and technical expertise. They will continue to meet the needs of the civilised world. As a famous civil engineer once said "Scientists explore what is; Engineers create what has never been".
- Employed by architectural practices and local authorities.
- Design construction details, putting the architect's design into practice.
- Administer construction contracts.
- Many run their own practice, designing small scale building projects & refurbishment schemes.
- Plan the maintenance of the nation's building stock.
- Act as building pathologists, identifying and analysing building defects, advising of remedial works.
- Undertake the role of Facilities Manager, ensuring buildings are well maintained & comply with health and safety legislation.
- Undertake building control duties for local authorities and other organisations.
Quantity Surveyors
- Employed by consultants and contracting organisations.
- Advise clients on construction costs and provide financial management services.
- Provide project management services from inception to completion of a construction project.
- Work on all types of building and civil engineering projects.
Author: Malcolm Duncan, Senior Lecturer, Built Environment Group, Bolton Institute
